LUCAS LEIVA believes Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez should be crowned PFA Players’ Player of the Year in recognition of his “amazing” season.

The Reds striker appears to be locked in a three-way battle for the coveted award with Manchester United’s Robin van Persie and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale. Voting will take place over the coming weeks with the winner due to be announced in April.

Suarez has plundered 25 goals in all competitions so far this season – outscoring both Van Persie (23) and Bale (19). The Uruguayan would become Liverpool’s first winner of the accolade since Steven Gerrard in 2006 and Lucas is hoping his fellow professionals show their appreciation for Suarez’s talents.

“Luis will certainly be challenging for that award,” Lucas said.

“It has been such an amazing season for him. He has been scoring a lot of goals and showing everyone all the qualities he has.

“I just hope he wins because I think he deserves it after everything he has done this season.

“I think it’s going to be between Luis, Van Persie and Bale. All three have performed really well and have scored a lot of goals.

“But we hope Luis has got the luck to win it. He has been so important for us and is a special player. It’s just so good to have him in our team.

“We just hope he can continue playing at this level and scores many more goals before the end of the season.”

Saturday’s Premier League trip to Wigan will be Suarez’s 90th appearance for the club and he has already netted 46 goals.

If he scores twice against the Latics he will become the first Liverpool player to bag 20 league goals in a campaign since Fernando Torres five seasons ago.

His prolific form has prompted speculation about his future with Bayern Munich and Manchester City rumoured to be among a number of clubs hoping to lure Suarez away from Liverpool with the offer of Champions League football this summer.

However, the 26-year-old penned a new long-term contract with the Reds last year and Lucas has no doubts about his commitment.

“After the season Luis is having I’m sure there will be a lot of speculation, that is bound to happen,” Lucas added. “At the end of the day it will be his decision and the club’s decision. But what I know from Luis is that he’s happy, he’s comfortable and his confidence is high. Nobody is thinking about the summer or next season yet.”